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MONDAY 31 |
Itandje seals loan deal
Liverpool have confirmed that reserve goalkeeper Charles
Itandje has left the club on loan.
The Frenchman has gone on a season-long loan to Kavala FC,
who last season earned promotion to the Greek top-flight.
The 26-year-old joined Liverpool from Lens in August 2007 as
cover for first-choice keeper Pepe Reina.
But with Reina having been in good form and remained injury
free, Itandje has made only seven first-team appearances for
the Reds, all in cup competitions.
Itandje's future at the club has looked uncertain since he
angered supporters by behaving inappropriately at the
memorial service for
the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in April.
Itandje was suspended by the club for 14 days and apologised
for
his behaviour.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez still has Brazilian keeper Diego
Cavalieri as cover for Reina this season.
(Sky Sports)
Burnley skipper targets return at Liverpool
Burnley skipper Steven Caldwell may have to withdraw from
the Scotland squad for next week’s crucial World Cup
qualifiers – but the Clarets hope he will be fit for a
potential birthday return at Liverpool.
Caldwell has not figured for Burnley this season after
sustaining a groin injury in Scotland’s 4-0 qualifying loss
in Norway three weeks ago – the first time he had been
selected by his country in four years.
(Lancashire Telegraph)
Dossena agent cools Reds exit talk
The agent of Andrea Dossena insists the Liverpool defender
is likely to stay put at Anfield despite speculation he
could return to Italy.
The Italian full-back has been linked with a move back to
Serie A this summer, with Napoli and Juventus reportedly
showing an interest.
With the Serie A transfer market closing on Monday,
Dossena's agent Roberto La Florio believes the chances of
the player returning to Italy
are slim.
"I am about to arrive in Milan," said La Florio to
calciomercato.it. "I know nothing regarding those rumours
(Juve and Napoli).
"I have read those stories myself it's only rumours.
"I don't think he will return to Italy, it's difficult for
an agreement to be reached now. I really think it's too
late."
Dossena is said to be keen on a return to Serie A despite
only moving to Anfield last season from Udinese.
(TEAMtalk)
Megson in broadside
at ‘diving’ Liverpool FC
Angry Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson has accused
Liverpool’s players of “chucking themselves all over the
pitch” to secure victory at
the Reebok Stadium.
Rafael Benitez’s side twice came from behind before a late
Steven Gerrard strike eventually earned a 3-2 win on
Saturday.
The turning point of the game came in the 54th minute when
Sean Davis was shown the red card for a second bookable
offence after
upending Lucas.
Megson was unhappy with the Brazilian’s part in the
incident, which he claims was typical of the antics of the
Anfield outfit.
And while the Trotters manager stopped short of referring to
Liverpool’s players of cheating, the inference was patently
obvious.
“The sending-off was up to the referee’s interpretation on
both yellow cards but I would strongly suggest that that
would only happen to 14 clubs in this league,” said Megson.
“There are six clubs that it wouldn’t happen to. You either
accept it or get better at it ourselves which we won’t do. I
can’t go on about honesty and integrity and then tell
players to chuck themselves all over the show."
(Liverpool Daily Post) |
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SUNDAY 30 |
Gerrard glad to be back on track
Steven Gerrard was pleased to see Liverpool return to
winning
ways yesterday.
Gerrard was happy to see the Reds put the disappointment of
Monday's defeat behind them and return to winning ways
against Bolton at the Reebok yesterday.
"It would have been difficult going into the international
break if we didn't get the result we wanted and this was all
about a reaction to the Aston Villa defeat, and I thought we
got that," said the captain.
(LFC Online) |
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SATURDAY 29 |
Rafa delighted with Reds response
Rafael Benitez admitted he was delighted with the reaction
of his Liverpool players after the Reds beat Bolton
Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.
Liverpool twice came from behind to secure an impressive 3-2
win, courtesy of goals from Glen Johnson, Fernando Torres
and
Steven Gerrard.
Following Monday's defeat to Aston Villa, victory over the
Trotters comes as a welcome tonic for the Reds.
"Today all of the players wanted to impress and do well -
they knew we needed to improve," Benitez told reporters at a
post-match press conference.
"From the first minute, the players were playing with a
great determination to win and it was important to have this
mentality. I am really pleased with the reaction of the
players.
"I think today we showed we have quality and when we play at
our level, we can beat anyone."
(LFC Official Website)
Reds hit back to beat 10-man Bolton
Steven Gerrard responded perfectly to having his early
season form questioned by hitting Liverpool's winner in a
3-2 success
at 10-man Bolton.
But the visitors were made to fight desperately hard by a
Bolton side who were down to 10 men for much of the second
period.
In fact, Gary Megson's men had been ahead twice through
Kevin Davies and Tamir Cohen, and Liverpool only really got
on top when Sean Davis was dismissed for a second bookable
offence.
Glen Johnson had fired one equaliser in the first half,
before Fernando Torres pulled Liverpool level at 2-2 a
couple of minutes after Davis angrily trudged off.
Then Gerrard struck with a fierce drive seven minutes from
the end to lift at least some of the pressure from Benitez.
(TEAMtalk)
Kyrgiakos starts versus Bolton
Sotirios Kyrgiakos will make his Liverpool debut in today's
Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton at the Reebok
Stadium.
The Greek centre-back starts alongside Jamie Carragher at
the heart of the Reds' defence, while Albert Riera is also
included in the starting XI for the first time this season.
Peter Gulacsi takes his place on the bench in place of Diego
Cavalieri, with the Reds' Brazilian goalkeeper having flown
home following the death of his father.
Liverpool team in full: Reina, Johnson, Carragher,
Kyrgiakos, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Riera, Gerrard,
Torres.
Subs: Gulacsi, Voronin, Benayoun, Plessis, Kelly, Skrtel,
Dossena.
(LFC Official Website)
Young Reds slump to Foxes defeat
Liverpool Under-18s suffered their first defeat of the
season after going down 3-0 against a vibrant Leicester City
at the Academy on Saturday afternoon.
Rodolfo Borrell's men could not recapture the form that saw
them overwhelm Fulham on the opening day of the Academy
league campaign and they were ultimately undone by the pace
and power of an imposing City side.
Liverpool under-18s: Chris Oldfield (Liam Jacob 36), John
Flanagan, Matthew McGiveron (Jack Robinson 64), Conor Coady,
Andre Wisdom, Alex Cooper, Craig Rodden, Adam Dawson
(Stephen Sama 46), Tom Ince, Lauri Dalla Valle, Krisztian
Adorjan. Unused subs: Marcus Giglio, Michael Ihiekwe.
(LFC Official Website)
Liverpool draw Leeds in cup
Liverpool will play League 1 side Leeds United in the 3rd
round
of the Carling Cup.
The reds will face the club at Elland Road for the first
time in 5 years, Leeds’ last in the Premier League.
Liverpool have won more League Cup’s (7) and appeared in
more finals (10) than any other club.
(Anfield Online)
Full draw
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion
Aston Villa v Cardiff City
Barnsley v Burnley
Bolton Wanderers v West Ham United
Carlisle United v Portsmouth
Chelsea v Queens Park Rangers
Hull City v Everton
Leeds United v Liverpool
Manchester City v Fulham
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Nottingham Forest v Blackburn Rovers
Peterborough United v Newcastle United
Preston North End v Tottenham Hotspur
Scunthorpe United v Port Vale
Stoke City v Blackpool
Sunderland v Birmingham City
Fixtures will be played in the week beginning 21st September
2009. |
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FRIDAY 28 |
Rafa: It's too early for pressure
Rafa Benitez is confident Liverpool will be challenging for
the title come May - and insists his side are under no
pressure going into this weekend's clash with Bolton despite
two defeats from their opening three games.
The boss believes 'togetherness and hard work' will get the
Reds back on track following reversals against Tottenham and
Aston Villa.
Asked at a pre-match press conference if his players were
now under pressure, Benitez replied: "No, I don't think so.
It's too early. Clearly the message for the players is the
same - three points from the next game, that's it.
"We have to approach every game thinking about three points
and then think about the next game. We cannot be thinking
about January.
"Last year I was answering questions in September and
October about us being contenders - it was too early. I said
we will see in April.
(LFC Official Website)
Kuyt in Dutch squad but no Babel
Liverpool winger Ryan Babel has not been included in Bert
van Marwijk’s Holland squad for the forthcoming
international games against Japan and Scotland, although
Dirk Kuyt is called up.
The Premier League season is put on hold for two weeks after
this weekend with Holland playing Japan in a friendly on
September 5th, before traveling to Scotland for a World Cup
2010 qualifier
on September 9th.
(This is Anfield)
Kyrgiakos in line for Reds start
New Liverpool signing Sotirios Kyrgiakos came through a
reserve run-out on Thursday and is in line for his Premier
League debut at Bolton.
The Greece international played 45 minutes of the second
string's 3-2 defeat by Blackburn reserves, and with concerns
still over Martin Skrtel's jaw injury the new centre-back is
set to play at the Reebok.
After two league defeats in three games, boss Rafael Benitez
needs to get Liverpool's season on track quickly. But he is
still without Fabio Aurelio, Daniel Agger and new midfielder
Alberto Aquilani -
all long-term injured.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel,
Kyrgiakos, Insua, Benayoun, Babel, Mascherano, Lucas,
Voronin, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres, Cavalieri, Dossena, Ayala,
Kelly, Spearing, Riera, Ngog.
(TEAMtalk)
Reserves lose
Liverpool reserves lost their first game of the season last
night.
John McMahon's side were beaten 3-2 by Blackburn Rovers. It
was a harsh result on the reserves who were the better side
throughout.
Nathan Ecclestone put Liverpool in front before Rovers
equalised against the run of play. Ecclestone restored the
Reds' lead early in the second half before Daniel Ayala
scored an unfortunate own goal to level things again.
Blackburn won it with an injury time penalty.
New signing Sotirios Kyrgiakos made his debut, playing the
first half before being replaced by Martin Kelly.
(LFC Online)
Thor Zakariassen
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